Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 1:11

"ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf." — 2 Corinthians 1:11 (ASV)

You also helping together by prayer for us. Tindal renders this, in connection with the close of the previous verse: "we trust that still in the future he will deliver us, by the help of your prayer for us." The word translated "helping together" means co-operating, aiding, or assisting. The idea is that Paul felt his trials could be turned to good account, giving occasion for thanksgiving, and that this was to be accomplished by the aid of the prayers of his fellow Christians.

He felt that the church was one and that Christians should sympathize with one another. He evinced deep humility and tender regard for the Corinthians when he called on them to aid him by their prayers. Nothing could be better calculated to excite their tender affection and regard than for him to call on them in this way to sympathize with him in his trials and to pray that these trials might result in thanksgiving throughout the churches.

That for the gift bestowed upon us. The sentence that occurs here is very perplexing in the original, and its construction is difficult, but the main idea is not hard to see. The "gift" (Greek: to charisma) referred to here doubtless means the favour shown to him in his rescue from such imminent peril; and he felt that this was owing to the prayers of many people on his behalf. He believed that he had been remembered in the petitions of his friends and fellow Christians, and that his deliverance was owing to their supplications.

By the means of many persons. This probably means that the favour referred to had been imparted by means of the prayers of many individuals who had taken a deep interest in his welfare. However, it may also imply, perhaps, that he had been directly assisted and rescued from the impending danger by the intervention of many friends who had come to his relief. The usual interpretation, however, is that it was by the prayers of many on his behalf.

Thanks may be given by many on our behalf. Many may also be induced to give thanks for my deliverance. The idea is that since he had been delivered from great peril by the prayers of many people, it was also proper that thanksgiving should be offered by as many on his behalf, or on account of his deliverance.

"Mercies that have been obtained by prayer should be acknowledged by praise." — Doddridge. God had mercifully intervened in answer to the prayers of His people, and it was proper that His mercy should be as extensively acknowledged.

Paul desired that God should not be forgotten and that those who had sought his deliverance should give praise to God. He was perhaps intimating here that those who had obtained mercies by prayer were prone to forget their obligation to return thanks to God for His gracious and merciful intervention.

The term "gift" may also be understood as "benefit."